Living Arts College

I an currently in my 4TH! year at this school and have grown as a designer, business person, and as a leader. I am a Graphic Designer, and yes like many comments on this page I to have had some difficulties understanding why our school handles certain things the way they do, but aside from all that the teachers I deal with on a regular basis care about each and every student and take time to listen to peoples ideas and help teach the student how to make there ideas a reality. Yes teachers often come and go, as well as staff, but if you cant handle a little change than this business is not the route you should take. This school has taught me SOO much and being a small school with classes with ONLY 14 people to a class really helps you to be out spoken and open with your class mates and teachers. I highly recommend this school for people who are interested in going to a school were your not just a number, your thoughts and ideas are heard. AND YES!!! we have dorms now that makes commute a lot better for those who need to move closer to the school and an amazing staff that will make you feel rite at home. more

They helped persuade my decision on which gear to purchase for my own personal projects. I enjoyed hearing about their experiences and how they became successful in their career. Since I have become a student at Living Arts College, I have been impressed by the representation of the industry. This is my third quarter at Living Arts College and they have had some awesome speakers thus far. The information they give is very informative and they provide real life stories and experiences to back it up. more

It was great to see industry professionals take time out and their own independent work to show us the professional equipment. They are very approachable and made time to talk to students individually. more

Ask yourself, ""why is it I wish to go here?"" more

Where to start? I literally hated almost EVERY moment at this school. The first few quarters were OKAY at best, but from there it went downhill fast. I was in the animation program and it's just totally crap. You WON'T get a job in the ""industry"" by going here. Even the people who's work literally blew me away, haven't been able to find any work in their field. (I graduated in '09, it's 2011 so I thought it would be enough time for at least someone who graduated with me to find a job that applied to their degree.. I was wrong.) There's only ONE good animation teacher who actually seems to like his job. The rest just seem to hate their lives. ALSO, this school literally will stalk you on facebook and you WILL get in trouble for posting things on your page. It's a good idea to make EVERYTHING private if you go here and find and block all the teachers immediately. There was an incident where a teacher claimed to hear me talking about going to a haunted house, the day after hearing this (he claimed), I wasn't in class because I had an appointment with a doctor about some back problems I had been dealing with. He called my mother and told her I was skipping class to go to a haunted house, total lie. I was 21 at the time, so it's pretty embarrassing for a teacher to call your parents and make some outrageous claim like that. It's supposed to be COLLEGE and not 5th grade.. Since this I've never had an incident where a college called my parents. Not to mention Hooper makes things literally MISERABLE while you're there. I suggest staying as far away from her as you would someone with oozing leprosy. She is very unprofessional, and flat out rude. How she walks without breaking, I'm not sure. As a graduate from this school I feel anyone thinking about going here should honestly talk to someone who has graduated. It's a lot of money, time, and energy to waste. I feel like I wasted 2 years of my life, and 40 grand, here. Although now I'm (thankfully) attending a reputable, four year University. My time and money were completely wasted here. This degree isn't worth a thing. If you want to get a job in this field, I would highly recommend Savannah College of Art and Design. They're fantastic, and if you're thinking about spending this kind of money make good use of it by going to SCAD and don't waste your time with this feces packed, quagmire of an institution. The previous post was right as well, the school has changed it's name several times. It used to be School of Communication Arts @ Digital Circus. Was something else before this, and was mentioned in a news article about why they shut down and didn't refund the student's money. (went bankrupt, some searching on google should turn up the article.) Also, they will tell you the credits are transferable to a 4 year university.. TOTAL LIE. They will NOT transfer to ANY well established University. more

DO NOT GO TO THIS SCHOOL!! I used to go to this college and it?s not all it?s cracked up to be. Do your research before you consider going to LAC!! This school changes their name every few years to avoid lawsuits. They used to be called SCA @ Digital Circus. There?s online articles about Roger Klietz and how the staff kicked all the students out of the school, took their money, and built the 3 domes that are in Raleigh now. One student in my animation class didn?t know how to use a f**king computer, and another one in one of my friends? class couldn?t read!! The staff doesn?t tell prospective students that ONLY 12% OF THEIR STUDENTS GET JOBS in the industry. They keep your classwork and get credit for it. They use CRACK SOFTWARE on all of their computers because they?re cheap and can?t afford the real programs. Their computers are plugged to one network, so every once in a while all the lights go out and people lose all their work. They keep students? seat fee deposits, and they?re now charging alumni $15 an hour for visiting. more

I guess people usually only speak up and say something when things are bad. But I would like to prove that to be untrue. My experience at Living Arts College has been wonderful. Yes, the programs are tough. Yes, they do not accept everyone (I guess people sometimes walk away unhappy because of this.) But it is a COLLEGE! What else would you expect? I don't always do as well as I'd like to in class, but I am improving and I can't wait to do this for a career! more

Currently, I am finishing up my last quater at school and looking foward to graduation in September. I am working for a company in Raleigh as their lead designer. Also currently designing my personal website to have up and running on the web soon. This last quater has been crazy busy but is going great. My time here at Living Arts College has been amazing. Taking advantage of the opportunities that came while attending Living Arts College has definitely helped me get where I am today. Not only the projects we have at the school but working with real people on real projects. For instance a freelance brochure I did for Save the Teens or the logo I created for Beyond Words Inc. These projects will help better prepair you for working in the real world. While your in school you have to go above and beyond. Join groups like AIGA and attend conferences that have to do with your career like Promax BDA. These will open your eyes to bigger things and show the best of the best thats out there. One other thing that has helped me get to where I am today are the teachers here at Living Arts College . They are here to help you! All you have to do is make time to talk with them outside of class. Also talk with your fellow classmates. I know when I fist came to the school, Chris Bowling was an inspiration to me. He was a TA in one of my first design classes. There are so many things to take advantage of at Living Arts College . You just have to put forth the effort. Geoff Helderman more

While I had my ups and downs at this school, the overall experience was above what I was expecting. I originally enrolled in the film program but quickly switched after meeting the design teachers. I got all the help and information I could from them, while doing my own independent studies outside of the school. For me, the classroom time was a chance to have a one-on-one critique from professionals from the design world. Within 4 moths of graduation, I was hired at an advertising agency and working on nationwide clients. To this day, many of the teachers and faculty still contact me to stay in touch or in some cases job leads. I can see how if you don't put in 100% effort, you may not like this school, as they do not spoon feed you. Pros: Small classes, professional teachers, opportunity to grow Cons: expensive, some outdated computers more

i wish I could still attend, but had to drop out cuz of my own financial reasons; i'm hoping to attend as soon as i can. miss it. Pros: The people, the place and the profs Cons: not attending any more more

Impressive facility with many opportunities to learn and work on my portfolio. The faculty love to critique your work which I really enjoy. While there I saw important the atmosphere is and the faculty. While at this school I've met many professionals, gone on good field trips and learned how to do this for real. All in all a school I have recommended to others. Pros: atmosphere - faculty - equipment Cons: intense programs more

Complete waste of time and money. You can learn the things they are supposed to teach you elsewhere for much less money. I was there for Digital Film Production so I can only talk about that part...Technology there was sub par, teachers lacked knowledge and did not seem to care, staff is incompetent. If you have money they will admit you. We spent one class with the teacher explaining to someone how to use a computer. Most of the other students look like gang-bangers (audio department). Ask to speak with past students. Ask what accomplishments former students have made (ask for verification) Also call around and ask professionals what they think of this place. This place is a scam. Look for other options. I wish I had listened to advice like this before I went there. Pros: a few good instructors Cons: price, staff, lies more

This school is basically the result of clever advertising. They'll do anything to draw you in and get your money. They say its state of the art training but that?s complete bullsh*t. I could learn more in After Effects and Final Cut at home in my spare time then in the classes here. I think for every 10 students that get admitted, only about 1 or 2 actually graduate. I'm still a student here and I want to graduate, but the administration could care less about what I want. They care only about filling their pockets with your money. Once you're enrolled, you might as well f*ck yourself because they don't give a sh*t. They make it sound so good when you're on the tour, but after a couple months, you'll see exactly what I'm saying. There are some great teachers and people in student services who really want to help you. And you can certainly learn a good deal of skills here. But the administration and the tech department are a huge joke. If you want to switch out of a class, you might as well s*ck it. You don?t choose your classes or the time you will be taking them. The computers and Mac?s they have run on single core Pentium processors with maybe 512mb ram. Woo. Talk about high tech. I know more about building and fixing computers than the tech guys here. I mean there are teachers here who are great people and will give you loads of advice on what it takes to get into the industry. And they'll talk sh*t about the administration right along with you. But with this school, you'll only get out what you put in. If you?re already self-motivated, don?t waste your time. You can learn all the necessary skills at home and do what it takes to break into the industry. The only positive side of this school is that it gives you the opportunity to work with other students and collaborate on projects thus allowing you to learn from each other. If you enroll at this school, be prepared to take a lot of sh*t. You'll most likely be going through that the entire time. They take pleasure in making your education a pain in the *ss. Consider these things if you?re looking at this school. The training and skills you?ll learn are ok, but it?s honestly nothing you can?t find at a normal college or learn at home. Pros: Teachers Cons: Administration more

Where to start....First off anyone can get in, they'll take anyone who is willing to pay the 40,000 for 2 years. The staff there are all brainwashed. It's crazy, I have never in my life experienced people like that. They have their head to far out their a ss. They make up the rules as they go. Debra Hooper is the most wacked out person there. She defends that school even if it makes no sense or her look like a moron. And if you say anything negative about it she will turn it around and make if seem like your the problem. The teachers there have the biggest EGOS. In class we just listen to the teacher talk about what they have done and the famous people they have ""worked with""....yeah right. The school is supposed to be ""hand on learning"" but the teacher would just tell us to set up lights and the students would just stand around confused because we didn't know what the heck we were doing. And if we did it wrong the teacher would just laugh saying that's not what he would have done, because ""he's from LA, he's good"" (actual Debra Hooper quote). The classes are supposed to be small (about 11 people) but mine were packed (about 30 people). Also the actual classrooms are very small and there were never enough chairs. I never saw the ""state of the art technology or equipment"" that they hide from their students. That school is so ghet to. It's nothing that you can't find at a community college I didn't learn a damn thing there. Gosh, theres sooooo much i could say but I'm going to stop before i get pisse d off for ever wasting my time there. Pros: it was close to my house Cons: i would give it negative 5 stars, this school IS the con more

This school is a JOKE!! The credits transfer NOWHERE!! they tell you its an accredited school, but its by some crappy accredation. They try to cram so much into 2 years and you come out with a portfolio that professionals LAUGH at! I look back 5 years later and realize that I actually learned everything in the industry and nothing at the school. The degree was a waste of my time. The only reason I got my foot in the door when I graduated was bc some nice guy decided to give me a chance and train me. The teachers and administration here are unprofessional and most of them don't have a right to be teaching bc their work is horrible. The school is WAY overpriced. They charge per semester what an accredited school like SCAD would charge! I recommend the new art institue in Durham instead of this. They offer Bachelors degrees as well. This school will get you nowhere but in debt! They lie to your face. They act like its such a big deal when you are accepted and that your portfolio is the best. They let ANYONE in! I could turn in a stick figure on a napkin and get accepted. They told me that if didnt enroll after accepted that I may not be able to get in later. I wanted to finish my degree at the university I was in before transferring there, but they made it seem impossible. They told me that I could finish my degree at App State later and my credits would transfer, which is a LIE. They know good and well that they wont transfer to any university!! The facility is a joke. it looks like some rundown circus building. Just look at their website! It's horrible! How do you expect to learn anything from a school whos website looks like SH*T!!?? Please save your money. This school honestly needs to be shut down! They are scamming people for money. pay a little extra money and go to a REAL accredited school! Pros: getting to know classmates better because the classes are smaller Cons: horrible education, not accredited, overpriced, lying administration more

I wanna go to this school! !!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! more